Run-stopper Henderson out up to 5 more weeks

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, October 7, 2010

When a 6-foot-7, 335-pound football player injures his foot, alarms should go off. Because there is no such thing as easing back into action.

On Wednesday, the distress call sounded and any hopes of salvaging the Raiders' run defense might have been dashed. Defensive tackle John Hendersonis probably out another five weeks with a stress fracture in his right foot.

Henderson already has missed two games with a sore foot that was getting better before it got worse Saturday.

It's quite a blow for a run defense that gave up 249 yards to Houston on Sunday and ranks 31st in the league.

"I think it's big," head coach Tom Cable said. "John was playing well and the last time really that he played was St. Louis, but we've had good play out of him, so obviously that's a loss. But we'll overcome it."

The Raiders signed Henderson, 31, this offseason after the two-time Pro Bowler was released by Jacksonville in a cost-cutting measure. He started one of the first two games, and Oakland was definitely better with him on the field.

With Henderson, the Raiders gave up 280 yards (4.7 per carry) in two games against the No. 1 and 2 rushers in the league last year, Tennessee's Chris Johnsonand St. Louis' Steven Jackson. Without him, Oakland got rolled for 368 yards (5.9 a pop) by Arizona and Houston.

Because of injuries at linebacker, Davis was added. The 25-year-old has spent time with Pittsburgh, New England and San Francisco.

Davis was surprised when some Raiders employees said they remember him from the days when his father, Bruce, played for the Raiders from 1979 to 1987.

"I left here when I was 2 years old," Davis said. "It's a little strange for them to see me without a diaper on."

Cable was offensive coordinator at UCLA when Davis was a dominant pass rusher.

Briefly: Middle linebacker Rolando McClainmissed practice because of a death in his family. The rookie is expected to rejoin the team today. ... Guard Robert Gallery, who has missed the past three games with a hamstring injury, worked out on the side Wednesday.

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